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Domestic Furnishings

Washboards, armchairs, lamps, and pots and pans may not seem to be museum pieces. But they are invaluable evidence of how most people lived day to day, last week or three centuries ago. The Museum's collections of domestic furnishings comprise more than 40,000 artifacts from American households. Large and small, they include four houses, roughly 800 pieces of furniture, fireplace equipment, spinning wheels, ceramics and glass, family portraits, and much more.

The Arthur and Edna Greenwood Collection contains more than 2,000 objects from New England households from colonial times to mid-1800s. From kitchens of the past, the collections hold some 3,300 artifacts, ranging from refrigerators to spatulas. The lighting devices alone number roughly 3,000 lamps, candleholders, and lanterns.

In 1905 inventor Albert Marsh developed a special type of wire by combining nickel and chromium. His new nichrome wire could be heated by an electric current and cooled repeatedly in the presence of oxygen without burning out, perfect for making heating elements. This electric toaster made by General Electric around 1910 has four heating elements with the wire wrapped around forms made of heat-resistant mica. The floral design painted in the ceramic base was an optional feature as most model D-12 toasters came with a plain white base.

This knife belongs to a set of silverware seen in 1978.2424.01–1978.2424.24. The knife’s blade bears the mark of a crown below a dagger and the letters “BIRD” above where the knife joins the handle. The marks do not seem to correspond to traditional British or American maker’s marks. The crown was marked on silverware made in Sheffield, while the dagger was known as “sword of St. Paul” and was marked on tableware from London. “BIRD” could refer to the family, which may also be represented by the crest on the silver handle that depicts a profile bust of a woman emerging from a crown. The silverware was made during the middle of the 18th century. Silverware then represented an important investment for colonial families. Silverware was more than just tableware, it was a reliable asset for colonial families—it could be easily moved, melted down, or redeemed for currency in lean times.

This two-tined fork belongs to a set of silverware seen in 1978.2424.01–1978.2424.24. The silver handle bears a crest that depicts a profile bust of a woman emerging from a crown. The silverware was made during the middle of the 18th century. Silverware then represented an important investment for colonial families. The silverware was more than just tableware, it was a reliable asset for colonial families—it could be easily moved, melted down, or redeemed for currency in lean times.

This twenty-four-piece silverware case contained twelve forks and twelve knives (see 1978.2424.01–1978.2424.24). Each piece has a handle of silver with the crest engraved on the handle depicting a profile bust of a woman emerging from a crown. The silverware was made during the middle of the 18th century. Silverware then represented an important investment for colonial families. The silverware was more than just tableware, it was a reliable asset for colonial families—it could be easily moved, melted down, or redeemed for currency in lean times.

This silver cocktail shaker was patented in 1924. Shaped like a vase and covered in a hammered surface effect, this shaker was a part of a set of eight accompanying cups that were used during the Prohibition era. Ratified on January 16, 1919, the Eighteenth Amendment made the manufacture, transport, and sale of alcohol illegal in the United States. This restriction on the alcohol industry ushered in Prohibition, an era that impacted the social, political, and economic landscapes of America.

This set of eight stemmed cups accompanied the cocktail shaker also seen in the exhibit. They feature the same hammered effect and are made of silver. The cups are noticeably worn, perhaps from extensive use during Prohibition, a time when alcohol was outlawed in the name of social reform. Although making, selling, and transporting alcohol were illegal consuming it was not, and people devised many ways to continue this pastime.

This set of eight stemmed cups accompanied the cocktail shaker also seen in the exhibit. They feature the same hammered effect and are made of silver. The cups are noticeably worn, perhaps from extensive use during Prohibition, a time when alcohol was outlawed in the name of social reform. Although making, selling, and transporting alcohol were illegal consuming it was not, and people devised many ways to continue this pastime.

This set of eight stemmed cups accompanied the cocktail shaker also seen in the exhibit. They feature the same hammered effect and are made of silver. The cups are noticeably worn, perhaps from extensive use during Prohibition, a time when alcohol was outlawed in the name of social reform. Although making, selling, and transporting alcohol were illegal consuming it was not, and people devised many ways to continue this pastime.

This set of eight stemmed cups accompanied the cocktail shaker also seen in the exhibit. They feature the same hammered effect and are made of silver. The cups are noticeably worn, perhaps from extensive use during Prohibition, a time when alcohol was outlawed in the name of social reform. Although making, selling, and transporting alcohol were illegal consuming it was not, and people devised many ways to continue this pastime.

This set of eight stemmed cups accompanied the cocktail shaker also seen in the exhibit. They feature the same hammered effect and are made of silver. The cups are noticeably worn, perhaps from extensive use during Prohibition, a time when alcohol was outlawed in the name of social reform. Although making, selling, and transporting alcohol were illegal consuming it was not, and people devised many ways to continue this pastime.